I said the other day unrestricted free agent Manny Malhotra was the best option for the Edmonton Oilers in terms of a third-line centre who can win face-offs and kill penalties. I was wrong.

While Malhotra might be the best player who fits that description, he might not be the best option for the contract-heavy Oilers, and there's a couple of reasons for that.

First and foremost, it looks like Malhotra, who made $1.5 million with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, one in which he scored 11-17-28 and won 58 per cent of his face-offs, is expecting something north of $2 million a season on the open market. He'll get it. That's too pricey for the Oilers.

Second, with Malhotra being a UFA, GM Steve Tambellini has to take on a contract without giving one up. That's not the way to go. The trade route is. The problem, of course, is finding a trade partner that has what you want and needs what you have.

I thought about that for awhile, did some checking and came up with a name who makes sense -- those looking for a big splash or marquee dash can stop reading now. Nothing to see here.

That name is David Steckel.

HE FITS THE BILL

Who? I know. If you're thinking, Brownlee fell down the stairs and hit his big, fat head again, I get it. But hear me out or at least humour me, like you do with senile uncle Al when he asks who the hell you are for the third time at Thanksgiving dinner.

Steckel, for the vast majority of you who don't have his name on the tip of your tongue, is a six-foot-five, 222-pound pivot who just finished his fourth season with the Washington Capitals. While his boxcar numbers are less than inspiring, 8-11-19 in 76 games, he fits the bill on several levels.

-- Steckel, 27, is a demon on the dot. He finished the 2008-09 regular season among NHL leaders at 57.9 per cent. In 14 playoff games, he upped that to 58.4 per cent.

That's no flash in the pan, either. In 2007-08, he was 56.3. In 2006-07, he was 65.1, although that was in a span of just five games.

-- Steckel kills penalties and his face-off record shorthanded this past season was 153-130.

-- He's cheap. Steckel has one year remaining on a contract that will pay him $725,000 in 2009-10. Given that the Oilers already have about $51.3 million committed to salaries next season, price point, about one-third of what a player like Malhotra wants, matters.

-- Lastly, and most important, it looks to me like the Oilers and Caps each have something the other team wants on needs. The Oilers need a face-off man and the Caps could use some toughness at the bottom of the roster after losing Donald Brashear. I'm thinking J.F. Jacques could be their man.

A DEAL TO BE DONE?

Jacques, 24, is young enough and tough enough, despite back problems that stalled his career before he returned this season, to be of interest to the Capitals with Brashear gone.

Jacques has one more year left on a contract that will pay him $550,000 next season. While the Caps might want a prospect or pick thrown in to swing the deal, Tambellini wouldn't lose any sleep if he could move two contracts for one. He also has some depth in toughness and a logjam on the fourth line with Zack Stortini and Steve MacIntyre in the fold.

Those who've read this far can see this wouldn't be a big splash or a sexy deal, but it might be the right deal to address a glaring shortcoming, and the Oilers could use one of those right about now.

I will text the Steckel suggestion to Tambellini and await word back. As always, when I know what his response is, you'll know.

-- Listen to Robin Brownlee every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. on Just A Game with Jason Gregor on Team 1260.

A sports writer since 1983, including stints at The Edmonton Journal and The Sun 1989-2007, I happily co-host the Jason Gregor Show on TSN 1260 twice a week and write when so inclined. Have the best damn lawn on the internet. Most important, I am Sam's dad. Follow me on Twitter at Robin_Brownlee. Or don't.

@ Robin Brownlee:
Hey Robin, I’m not sure if you noticed my question earlier or not. I was wondering if you had an idea on how many more contracts the Oilers needed to shed to be in a position to chase down remaining free agents?

@ DanMan: He's right, though, in that I doubt that Brooks Laich gets let go. One thing the Capitals don't have a lot of is guys who crash the crease, and Laich is one of those. He's a decent face-off guy and is a defensively responsible forward, plus is popular with the fans and shows a lot of leadership. If they let a center go, it's likely to be Boyd Gordon, but I doubt they do.

The Caps may be looking to trade defensemen. Sound weird? Maybe, but they used 14 blueliners last season and at one point were playing with 5 call-ups and a starter on the blueline - and still won games. They've got by my count nine D who can play at the NHL level: Green, Morrisonn, Pothier, Poti, Jurcina, Erskine, Alzner, Carlson, and Sloan. The only one that didn't play in a Caps sweater last season is Carlson, and he came in for Hershey's playoffs and took a top-pairing role in their run to the Calder. They're deep on the blueline.

You must have missed the recent article in the washington post in which mcphee publicly dismisses the need for enforcers in the game, citing detriot as a prime example.

Future Chump: And you missed the discussion I had with somebody who knows the Capitals are looking to add toughness.
If you don't mind, I'll go with what I know over McPhee's public stance on the subject of enforcers in a newspaper article. OK? Matt wrote:

Malhotra is avaliable, Steckel is not.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Matt, the new GM of the Washington Capitals.

@Robin: I don't think this one's going to go anywhere. McPhee said in a fan conference call today that he's leaning more towards the Detroit model, with a lot of guys who play hard but no enforcer. The Southeast Division doesn't have a lot of rough-and-tumble teams; that's more the province of Atlantic and Northeast this year. (I'm still waiting for Pronger and Emery to fight.)

So, I don't think the Capitals will have a lot of interest in an enforcer type. Plus, Steckel was a monster for them in the playoffs. They're not going to let him go easily.

@ Robin: And you missed the discussion I had with somebody who knows the Capitals are looking to add toughness.

Well, there's a difference between "toughness" and "fighting". Based on the fan conference call today (which I was on), it sounds as if they're looking for guys who play hard and can score, but that dropping the gloves isn't a huge priority for them.

@ OvenChicken8:
I got GS' back...there actually was a conference call with both GMGM and Bruce Boudreau, in which season ticket holders could and did call in and ask questions (screened, of course). Here is a link to some of the call's highlights:
http://www.japersrink.com/2009/7/20/955649/fan-forum

@ Robin: And you missed the discussion I had with somebody who knows the Capitals are looking to add toughness.
Well, there’s a difference between “toughness” and “fighting”. Based on the fan conference call today (which I was on), it sounds as if they’re looking for guys who play hard and can score, but that dropping the gloves isn’t a huge priority for them.

Look, let's cut the patty-cake. I don't give a squirt about PR stuff like "fan conference calls."
Like I said, and I say it again with certainty, the Caps are looking to add toughness. Nowhere did I say the Caps are looking to add an enforcer -- that would be Steve MacIntyre in the case of the Oilers.

RiverRunner wrote:

And really, fella, OvenChicken? Weak sauce.

Weak sauce? When you add weak sauce to top cheddar, does that make you throw up a little in your mouth? Freakin' nerd.

You must be new here.
Nothing like doing a drive-by based on boredowm alone, a total lack of information that screams fanboy and a desire to get a reaction ... wow, Washington is looking to add toughness. And Edmonton isn't shopping for a third or fourth-liner? Nothing says, "I'm a knucklehead" like a statement that far off.

@ Robin Brownlee:
any text back from Tambil? Too quiet on the Oil front. Fans have nothing to get excited about the Oil for next season(minus MacT). Wonder whats up with MacT, will he join the Oilers as a scout, Asst G.M. ,V.P.this season?

As has been stated in this comment section previously by myself and by a few others:

Who would the Caps 3C be if Steckel was traded? The Oilers certainly don't have an extra one of those to trade, as that is the whole reason we would be interested in Steckel.

They may be looking for toughness, I take Brownlee's word at that. There is, however, a big gap in the logic that suggests Steckel is a piece in play to acquire that toughness. They need his skillset over there. It is not duplicated in their roster. Why would they trade him? This just doesn't seem to add up from the Caps perspective if they intend to build a complete team.

@ Sandra:
I haven't heard a peep out of MacT from anybody with any newspaper or on any radio station, but I haven't called him lately either.
As for texting Tambellini, I was kidding. They know who David Steckel is without me presuming to know something they don't.

As has been stated in this comment section previously by myself and by a few others:
Who would the Caps 3C be if Steckel was traded? The Oilers certainly don’t have an extra one of those to trade, as that is the whole reason we would be interested in Steckel.
They may be looking for toughness, I take Brownlee’s word at that. There is, however, a big gap in the logic that suggests Steckel is a piece in play to acquire that toughness. They need his skillset over there. It is not duplicated in their roster. Why would they trade him? This just doesn’t seem to add up from the Caps perspective if they intend to build a complete team.

Good points, and right to the crux of the situation.
I'm not guessing about the Caps looking to add toughness, and the Oilers would be happy to accommodate them if they could get back what they needed.
And what is it that the Oilers need? A player exactly like Steckel. That's a far cry from suggesting the Caps would like to part with Steckel -- I haven't said that at any point and I haven't had anybody tell me that's the case. He's a helluva player in his role.

Steckel is a demon and a great fit, but I seriously doubt the Caps would be interested in moving him anytime soon. Boudreau has had him for 4 years and loves the guy, so as long as Boudreau is around, he's likely as available as Ovec...well let's not get ridiculous, but he'd be hard to get. We'd have to overpay and we're not in much of a position to to do that. I like the idea though.

One last thing about Danny Heatkey and players like him, is thier salary is guarenteed. But where this money comes from, the fans, is who has to pay for it. He got his 4M bonus and a place on the beach, he doesn't really care if he plays this season. He would have made his mind by now, or at least talked to his captain and line mate about his situation. I hope the Oilers dont get him.All he has to do is laugh all the way to the bank. His mother is so so so so sad people are cutting up her son, Do you have sympathy for her? She has a new house and a caddy in the drive way and she is appalled at what the fans say about her son. Final thought sorry.

As a Caps fan who was directed to your blog(By a post on Japersrink), I hope the Caps do NOT get rid of David Steckel. There's far more pieces they can move, more noticeable in my opinion in players like Shaone Morrisonn and Milan Jurcina and to a lesser some of their Hersey players that make more sense than Steckel. Unfortunately for the Capitals, Boudreau and Nylander don't seem to see eye to eye, and it's my opinion that Nylander should be moved, but only because Boudreau and his Jack Adams refused to try to find a spot for him (Of note, the Capitals changed lines nearly every game. I don't think that's the norm in the NHL).

I don't think the Capitals can afford to trade a center. The centers on the team are either young studs (Backstrom) albatross (Nylander) an injury risk (Morrison) or young 3rd/4th line prospects (Specifically, Gordon and Steckel). Gordon plays better on the right wing, even though he's a faceoff winning machine, so he fits in better there anyway.

I wouldn't mind if the Caps went out and got grit, but if they went into the season with what they have, I don't think they'll be upset.

I'm of the opinion Steckel would be a great player on any team he went to. He's a 20 goal scorer from the AHL, and if/when he finds that knack in the NHL, he's going to be an incredible 2nd-3rd line center, and I think that's his ceiling. As a result, with the rest of the Caps pivots being what they are, I would much prefer to hold on to him.

In other words, this is a long post saying "I really hope this doesn't happen." I want him in DC for all the reasons you want him in Edmonton.

So, is that what happens here when posters aren't on their virtual knees in front of you, listening to your sage words and waiting for a pat on the head? I come here to read and participate (by sourcing an article apparently you could not) and you're down to name calling. Nice form.
By the way, your Steckel-Jacques trade idea? Stupid. Why don't you just link this whole bag of gas to Eklund over at Hockey Buzz?

the rest of the Caps pivots being what they are, I would much prefer to hold on to him.
In other words, this is a long post saying “I really hope this doesn’t happen.” I want him in DC for all the reasons you want him in Edmonton.

I can see why you'd want to keep Steckel. I guess it depends on if the desire to add some grit/toughness to the line-up is enough to prompt McPhee to even consider moving him. Any conversations he's having about adding toughness might end in a hurry if Steckel's name even comes up.
At the very least, he'd want an overpay for Steckel and I, like you, don't think Jacques or Stortini is enough without another component to the trade.

RiverRunner wrote:

So, is that what happens here when posters aren’t on their virtual knees

No, this is what happens when sh*theads like you do a drive-by and insult people who post here regularly. You got what you asked for, so don't play the victim -- the contents of your last comment is where you're coming from. Yes, I'm just like Eklund. That shows how little you know.

The oilers are trying to add toughness to their lineup...and yet, its hard to see Jacques cracking our lineup. I dont think washington is going to look at Jacques and say "this is a guy we need to give up a useful roster player for" It would obviously be a great steal for the oilers, but from a washington standpoint, guys like JFJ are a dime a dozen and can be added without giving up a useful player like a steckel.

Hey Robin, I would like your feelings on Brad Richards possibly being available. If we were willing to shell out nearly $8M for Heatley, what are your thoughts about Richards in E-Town?

I don't have as much first-hand knowledge on Richards as I'd like to have a really good feel for him. When I was on the Oilers beat for the local dailies here he was in Tampa Bay and we didn't see him a lot. I stopped travelling with the team about the time he got to Dallas.
Between the two, I don't know a helluva lot more than you do from looking at the stats etc etc.
That aside, the Oilers can't take on that much salary and his injury problems last season could be the start of him breaking down or just a blip -- I don't know which it is.
I don't think he's the shooter and goal-scorer the Oilers need, at least not at $7.8 million.

Oh, and whoever suggested the caps may be looking to move brooks laich is an absolute idiot and should stop talking about the caps, cause you dont know what youre saying

Well, if you paid any attention to the actual words I used, you would notice that I said if the Caps did want to clear out one member of the glut at center "I'd bet it would be Laich. I did not suggest that they are looking to move him. I dont care what the caps do, I'm an Oiler fan, not a Caps fan.

And you know what, you guys are lucky you have #8, beacuse that organization has been garbage from the get-go.

Laich rarely plays center any more. They moved him to wing last season and he plays better there. In fact, Laich played on Steckel's wing for a good bit of the playoffs. Anyway, Laich is not going back to center any time soon, and quite honestly, he's only a so-so center at best and I think a team would be foolish to trade for him with the intention of playing him at that position.

Again, he's one of Bruce and George's (and Ted's) favorites, so he's not going anywhere. There is a core group of "golden children" on that team who are pretty off-limits, I think, to being traded. He's clearly being positioned to be the next captain.

Laich is considered future captain material (ok probably Alternate captain since OV will likely get the next C), and is extremely unlikely to be moved. The Caps signed him to a 3 year extension for a reason. They wanted to keep him then, and he performed well last year so there is no reason to expect that to change. Also, the Caps prefer Laich as a wing, though he did play center quite a bit last season.

The Caps may be looking to add toughness, but toughness is not exclusive to the Goon category of hockey players.

Mike Knuble is more tough than Viktor Kozlov, the player he is replacing, and at just $300K higher a cap hit. The Caps got a little tougher there.

Toughness can also be a synonym for tenacious fore checking, willingness to "take one for the team" (i.e. taking a beating in front of the net, laying out to block a shot) or delivering hard hits. The word goes a lot farther than simply being a fighter.

Blow off the public statements about the Caps lack of interest in a fighter if you want to, but they let Brashear walk, and have signed a couple of high ceiling character players in his place.

Did any of the teams that made their league conference finals have a goon taking a regular shift? The Capitals believe themselves to be in that upper tier now. I believe McPhee's often repeated public statements about the lack of the need for an enforcer.

@ Sombrero Guy:
You're right about toughness not being exclusive to the "goon" category of hockey players, yet you use the term and "enforcers" later on.
You won't find one reference to the Caps wanting a goon or an enforcer in the item I wrote. Like you said, and what seems to be lost on some people, is that you can add toughness without adding a goon.
If the Caps wanted an enforcer, they'd phone the Oilers about Steve MacIntyre. If they want a fourth-liner who can play tough and fight, it's a guy like Jacques or Stortini. While Stortini led the NHL in majors and likely qualifies as an enforcer in the minds of some people, he has a clue how to play the game and I consider him more than a five-shift, 6-minute a night player. Same with Jacques, if he's over his back problems and can regain some confidence.
And I'll repeat it for the 10th time, the Caps are looking to add toughness. I'm not guessing.

I see Stortini as a future 3rd-line Ethan Moreau type. It really bugs me when guys call him huggy-bear. Usually the same guys who haven't been in a real scrap since they tried to steal the barbie dolls from their sister.

You keep mentioning this 'tough guy' to replace brasher.. but the oil have been one of the softest in this regard since laraque was sent out.. Storts is a joke w the mits off and JFJ isnt exactly a heavy weight (as per the bieksa beating, Dec 2006 tho?!).. so I dont really know where your going with this whole 'the oil have lots of big tough fighters to replace brasher with'...

Brasher would kill any of those two.. Big Mac is the only one to come close, but he is hardly as servicable as this fine player you've scouted for us...

All that said, nice find (and that goes for the others that had him on the radar).. seems like an ideal fit for the oil, except i dont see what they could offer to go to the caps (from the bit-player bin, atleast)

psh there is no way stecks or laich are moved. the caps would have to be idiots to move them, unless there was a great return. Steckel is still maturing and getting better, while he is already one of the best faceoffs and pk'er. laich is a leader on the team and ISN'T A CENTER. He played it years ago, but mostly plays wing now. next captain if ovi isn't. and the caps arent looking for an enforcer. a bit of toughness wouldn't hurt, but the caps roster only needs a few tweaks, and this isn't one of them.

Hey brownlee you've gone from the journal to the sun to metro news to oilersnation and now to being our local eklund..shouldn't that be in reverse order.....why talk about something that has ZERO chance of happening? Is this a B5?

Hey brownlee you’ve gone from the journal to the sun to metro news to oilersnation and now to being our local eklund..shouldn’t that be in reverse order…..why talk about something that has ZERO chance of happening? Is this a B5?

I don't know, genius, was it written like a B5: imminent and all but done? Did you read (can you read?) the item and subsequent comments or did you take your right hand off your Johnson just long enough to submit this display of your vast intellect?

Hey relax there big guy. You can comment all you want on a players career but when things come full circle it doesn't sit too well? I did read the article and took it for what its worth - a random trade scenario that has no bearing on anything fact based. You shouldve focused on your johnson over this crap.

If comments display intellect, then buddy if you're ever wondering when you stopped becoming relevant, see your msg above.

I am not so sure that a top Edmonton sports writer/sports blogger should be dissin his faithful in such a flippant/facetious manner. I have to say that I do enjoy Robin and Gregor on JUST A GAME.....good match with much chemistry. I am not so sure I am enjoying Robin's blogs as much, as of late. It seems to me that Robin is less than willing to give callers or bloggers any credit that they may know a thing or two. I guess the dismissive attitude is what gets me. Oh well, I am still a big fan! Keep up the good work!

What sort of response do you expect when a commenter comes on here and starts insulting the guy and making insinuations about his reputation for posting an article? It's one thing to share an opinion or disagree, but when you come on here and start acting like a douche, your right to respect from others is gone.

And calling a dude like jj one of Brownlee's "faithful" is a complete misnomer!

@ jj:
I'm relaxed, and amused.
Look, if you're going to roll through here for no other reason than to try to push my buttons, which you did, then you've got to be better.

A few tips:
-- Yes, I comment on the careers of players. That's my job. Coming "full circle" would be having the players comment on my career. What you think has nothing to do with "full circle," nor does it matter one squirt to me.

-- Grammar. While this is a hockey website that doesn't require essay-type accuracy in the use of our language -- remember those "reports" you had to write before you dropped out in your second attempt at Grade 10? -- when insulting somebody, it's best not to make public your inability to cobble together even a simple sentence.

-- When you attempt to talk trash, try to deliver the punchline without crapping yourself. You wrote: "If comments display intellect, then buddy if you’re ever wondering when you stopped becoming relevant, see your msg above."
What you're saying (missing punctuation aside) is I stopped being (not becoming) relevant at 10:37 a.m. today. I believe you meant to say "why" I stopped being relevant. When trying to fling poop, the idea is to get more on the other guy than on yourself.

As compelling as this has been for me, I'll have to leave it at that. If I respond to your next comment -- you won't be able to help yourself -- that, in the minds of some, might constitute a debate between you and I, a measure of back-and-forth. The thought of you bragging about that around the Slurpee machine compels me to leave you with the last word.

@ Big Poppa Oil:
What sort of response do you expect when a commenter comes on here and starts insulting the guy and making insinuations about his reputation for posting an article? It’s one thing to share an opinion or disagree, but when you come on here and start acting like a douche, your right to respect from others is gone.
And calling a dude like jj one of Brownlee’s “faithful” is a complete misnomer!

Bingofuel: I appreciate the back-up, but no worrries. JJ is KTFU already. Never stood a chance, poor kid.

Big Poppa Oil wrote:

@ bingofuel:
Sorry…….LOL….you are right….my mistake. My reason for commenting though was exactly that, I did not agree with RB’s comments and as such felt the need to express.

I get where you're coming from. If people want to debate my take on something, that's fine by me. I think if you look at my responses to comments on this item, for example, you'll see that. Disagree? Fine.
But if you come in swinging and talking sh*t looking for a reaction, you'll get one. And you probably won't like it.

What about Paul Gaustad from Buffalo for our 3rd line center. He's a guy that wins over 50% of his draws and can chip in 10 goals/30 points. At 6 foot 5 and 225 pounds he's a big body too. Any chance Buffalo would be interested in anything we'd be willing to offer?